Apparatus, system, and method for water contaminant testing

• US 10,422,782 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2016
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Field Water Testing, LLC
• Original Assignee: Field Water Testing, LLC
• Inventors: Lloyd, Christopher, Duncan, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Mui, Christine T
• Application Number:
  US15/227,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20170038357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 422401, 422 8208, 422400, 422 50, 422 8201, 422 681
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7786 Fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/59 Transmissivity G01N21/25 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/643 non-biological material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/78 producing a change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/80 Indicating pH value
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0691 Modulated (not pulsed supply)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/1826 Organic contamination in water

Abstract

A system for detecting and quantifying an analyte in a liquid includes a vial including one or more pre-dosed reagents disposed in the vial. The vial is configured to hold a volume of a liquid including an analyte. The one or more pre-dosed reagents are dissolvable in the volume of the liquid to form a sample liquid solution comprising chromophores or fluorophores. The analyte and the one or more pre-dosed reagents react to yield the chromophores or fluorophores. The system further includes a detection device including a chamber configured to retain the vial, the detection device configured to quantify the analyte in the sample liquid solution.

Claims

1. A system for detecting and quantifying an analyte in a liquid, the system comprising:

a pre-dosed vial comprising one or more pre-dosed reagents disposed within the pre-dosed vial, wherein the pre-dosed vial is configured to receive and hold a volume of a liquid comprising an analyte, wherein the one or more pre-dosed reagents are dissolvable in the volume of the liquid to form a sample liquid solution comprising chromophores or fluorophores, wherein the analyte and the one or more pre-dosed reagents react to yield the chromophores or fluorophores, wherein the pre-dosed reagents comprise freeze-dried solid reagents; and

a detection device comprising a chamber configured to retain the pre-dosed vial, the detection device configured to quantify the analyte in the sample liquid solution;

a first photosensitive detector comprising a photosensor configured to convert a light signal from a plurality of light sources to a voltage signal, wherein a portion of the plurality of light sources used for transmission are physically mounted in a manner so that their beams will pass through the sample before hitting the photodiode directly and wherein a portion of the plurality of light sources used for fluorescence are mechanically mounted in a manner so that the detecting photodiode is at an angle to minimize transmissive signal,

wherein a portion of the plurality of light sources may be modulated at a fixed frequency and at pre-defined and controlled power levels;

an amplifier configured to amplify the voltage signal;

a demodulator configured to convert the voltage signal to a direct current signal; and

a control system comprising an analog to digital converter to measure the direct current signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein quantifying the analyte comprises quantifying the chromophores or fluorophores in the sample liquid solution.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the detection device further comprises a plurality of light sources, each light source configured to emanate light towards the sample liquid solution in the pre-dosed vial.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first photosensitive detector is positioned in the chamber opposite from at least one of the plurality of light sources.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the detection device further comprises a second photosensitive detector positioned at an angle offset from direct light from plurality of light sources.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of light sources are modulated at a fixed frequency.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the first photosensitive detector detects transmission of light through the sample liquid solution.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the second photosensitive detector detects fluorescence of light from the sample liquid solution.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the detection device is further configured to detect light signals that pass through the sample liquid solution and convert the detected light signals into digital signals to quantify the chromophores or fluorophores in the sample liquid solution.

10. A detection device for detecting and quantifying an analyte in a liquid, the detection device comprising:

a chamber configured to receive and retain a pre-dosed vial comprising one or more pre-dosed reagents disposed within the pre-dosed vial, wherein the pre-dosed vial is configured to receive and hold a volume of a liquid comprising an analyte, wherein the one or more pre-dosed reagents are dissolvable in the volume of the liquid to form a sample liquid solution comprising chromophores or fluorophores, wherein the analyte and the one or more pre-dosed reagents react to yield the chromophores or fluorophores, wherein the pre-dosed reagents comprise freeze-dried solid reagents;

a plurality of light sources, each light source configured to emanate light towards the sample liquid solution in the pre-dosed vial, wherein a portion of the plurality of light sources used for transmission are physically mounted in a manner so that their beams will pass through the sample before hitting the photodiode directly and wherein a portion of the plurality of light sources used for fluorescence are mechanically mounted in a manner so that the detecting photodiode is at an angle to minimize transmissive signal, wherein a portion of the plurality of light sources may be modulated at a fixed frequency and at pre-defined and controlled power levels;

a first photosensitive detector positioned in the chamber opposite from at least one of the plurality of light sources, the first photosensitive detector configured to convert a light signal from a plurality of light sources to a voltage signal; and

a second photosensitive detector positioned at an angle offset from direct light from plurality of light sources;

an amplifier configured to amplify the voltage signal;

a demodulator configured to convert the voltage signal to a direct current signal; and

a control system comprising an analog to digital converter to measure the direct current signal.